What is the saying here at BrewChief in regards to Bell's Brewery? ''It's a Bell's. 'Nuff said.'' I recently had the opportunity to sample yet another brew from one of the most reliable breweries in the country. As I pulled up a seat at my favorite local pub, the bartender needed only to say a few magical words: ''We have a new Bell's in.'' Sold! Hook me up! Could be a lager, could be a porter, could be an imperial IPA brewed with chicken, doesn't matter. It's a Bell's. Moments later I had the Special Double Cream Stout winter seasonal staring me in the face. The name alone had me instantly salivating and eager to dive right in.

In the glass, this beer has a deep brown coloration with some reddish edging when held up to a light source. It comes with a creamy tan head that was to be expected from the name. The aroma consists of a dominant roasted malt that comes across as unusually smooth and creamy. There is no harshness to be found anywhere, which was really surprising for the style. Even the smoothest of stouts have a little bit of gritty attitude. This beauty looked and smelled like a velvety pillow. Talk about a damn fine intro. I can only hope this beer's wad was not prematurely blown.

That first sip had me floating on the fluffy clouds, or velvety pillows rather, of beer heaven. That exquisite intro perfectly translates into the flavor and feel. That roasted malt character transforms into a rich coffee taste that sits atop a blanket of milk chocolate. Creamy vanilla notes also make their presence known and act as a thin complimentary layer. The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth for a stout and amazingly retains a rich thick body. This provides a lengthy study period, so make it a point to take your merry time with each sip. For the stout style, it doesn't get much more drinkable than this lovely lady. The finish is very clean with no grit and no bitterness, which is also very atypical for a stout, but a welcome change. All that is left in your mouth after each sip is the pleasant taste of creamy mocha goodness.

Overall, Bell's Special Double Cream Stout is a delectable brew that I can recommend to all levels of beer fan. Seasoned beer drinkers will find it to be a delicious treat and a study in how to craft an exquisite mouthfeel. Novices will especially benefit from this beer. It's very approachable, highly drinkable and packs a rich flavor punch. The Special Double Cream Stout goes well beyond a simple bridge beer. It's a revelation beer for beginners. One sip and you'll want to sever that bridge back to crap beer Indiana Jones style.